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Throughout the 19th century, the US had experienced a rise in trade and diplomatic relations with China, Vietnam, and a host of other Asian countries with the exception of Japan, due to their stringent policy of sakoku. Under President Millard Fillmore, Matthew Perry, a US Naval Officer, was ordered to go to Japan in attempt to open up trade and diplomatic relations. Matthew Perry refused to accept President Fillmore's mission unless he was promised a squadron of incredible strength. In response, President Fillmore assigned Matthew two steam frigates: Mississippi and Susquehanna. He was also given 2 sloops of war (warship with 3 masts and a single row of cannons). He wanted a strong squadron since Japan was a military government they would respect force. In May 1853, Matthew Perry assembled his squadron in Naha, Okinawa. Then he sailed to Edo Bay (Tokyo) on July 8, 1853, without any prior notice to any Japanese government officials.  When he arrived, he refused to speak to any local officials and demanded to speak to government officials. Two princes named Idzu and Iwami welcomed him with an opening ceremony where Matthew Perry delivered a letter from President Fillmore requesting for trade and diplomatic relations. The letter was politely accepted due to the show of force. Matthew Perry came back to the US and returned to Japan in February. When he returned, the Harris Treaty was signed, which establish diplomatic relations between the US and Japan and opened up 5 ports for trade. This treaty ended Japan's sakoku policy and prompted them to trade with other nations. After the signing of the Harris treaty, as a token of appreciation Matthew Perry brought gifts such as a miniature steam train, a telegraph, and a printing press to show off the US' technological advancements. (ABC-CLIO)

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What pushed Japan into passing the policy of sakoku?

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What pushed Japan into passing the policy of sakoku?

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In 1549, Jesuit Francis Xavier came to Japan to establish missions that resulted in 750,000 Japanese converts. Initially, there weren't any objections to Christianity, but as Japan was forced into unification by Oda Nobunaga and Toyotomi Hideyoshi, which later led to conflict between the East and West. The first anti-foreign  laws that were passed was directly aimed at priests due to the abundance of missionary work being done in Japan. In 1587, Toyotomi Hideyoshi passed the first anti-Christian legislation. The edict wasn't enforced until 10 years later when persecution against Christians began. During that year, a Spanish trading vessel, known as San Filipe, sank off the coast of Shikoku was seized. The captain who seized the ship told Hideyoshi that they were missionaries who were planning to take Japan over. Hideyoshi responded by crucifying 26 Christians. In 1600, Tokugawa Ieyasu took power. He banned missions in 1610 and outlawed Christianity in 1622, which lead to more persecution and executions. In, 1624 he expelled Europeans from being able to trade with Japan. After his reign, Tokugawa Iemitsu took power in 1623. Under his rule, official sakoku edicts were passed through 1633-1641. These edicts prevented Japanese people from leaving or entering the country if they were abroad and returning. (ABC-CLIO)

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In 1639, shogun Tokugawa Iemitsu passed a policy known as sakoku, which literally translates to "closed country". The purpose of this policy was to cut off Japan from the rest of the world by reducing contact with other countries to a minimum in fear of foreign influence. (ABC-CLIO)

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The harbor of Nagasaki, known as Deshima, is an artificial island where foreign traders were exiled from during Japan's isolationist period.

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The arrival of Commodore Matthew Perry and his Fleet in Japan

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The arrival of Commodore Matthew Perry and his Fleet in Japan